THE SCULPTURED CORX-CURCULIO : ITS DESCRIPTION'. 255 



scribed at the same time by Say, with *S'. vcnatus first in order ; but as 

 the insect kad been more widely distributed in entomological collec- 

 tions as S. placidns, it has been thought best to retain that name for 

 the species. It belongs to the same group of Splienoplior^is with S. 

 sculptilis, and in some of its varying forms which have given rise to its 

 several synonyms, it so closely resembles that species, that the mis- 

 taken identification above noticed might easily have been made. 



Description of the Beetle. 



The accompanying figures of the insect, together with the following 

 descnptjon (mainly from AValsh), will serve for the identification of 

 the beetle: Its body is long, subcylindrical, about three-tenths of an 

 inch in length ; the snout or beak is nearly one- 

 third as long as the body, of the thickness of a 

 stout horsc-hair, quite curved, slightly com- 

 pressed, minutely punctured, with the tip seen 

 from above dilated slightly and triangular. The 

 head is black, finely punctured, with a large di- 

 ** * « lated puncture or a small oval pit between the 



Fig. 76.— The sculptured m- n i i. • i i • -l 



corn curcuiio, S p h e n o- cyes. The thorax IS subtriaugular, having bc- 

 PHORus scDLPTiLis ; a and f |.|^ middle (on the prothorax) a smooth 



0, dorsal and side views en- \ i i 



largedr c, a row of punc* diamond-shapcd spot, on each side of which is 



tures additioually enlarged ,, ,, ,,.. ii i-i 



another smooth spot of irregular shape, whicli, 

 with two longer diverging spots behind, form an inverted Y on each 

 side ; the thorax elsewhere is covered with large punctures. The wing- 

 covers are marked with rows of larger punctures placed wide apart in 

 the grooves, represented iu enlargement at c in Fig. 76 ; on the smooth 

 places between the strire is a row of more or less crowded punctures; 

 on their base, near the outer edge, is a small, elongate-oval smooth 

 spot or tubercle, and a larger one near the tip. On the tip of the ab- 

 domen beyond the wing-covers, are two short rows of stiff, fine tawny 

 hairs. The legs are black, with the tarsi (feet) reddish-piceous. Be- 

 neath, the body is black and polished, and is marked with close 

 punctures as large as those of the thorax. 



We have no knowledge of the earlier stages of this insect. 



Earliest Notices of Injuries. 

 Under date of May 27, 1855, a gentleman from Solsville, Madison 

 county, N. Y., sent to the Connirij Gentleman for examination and 

 name, specimens of beetles, stating that they were new to him and were 

 committing great depredations upon the young corn. Two acres had 

 been nearly destroyed in four days They commenced at the top of 

 the stalk or leaf, and ate it to the ground, and sometimes to the ker- 

 nel. Often from three to six were found in a hill. 



